Topic: Re-Evaluating the Chemical Weapons Convention
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Brandon Pham
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Bolivia position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Chemical warfare has long been declared an instrument of destruction against mankind. Even after the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997, they still remain a pivotal topic in the international community today. The CWC has effectively prohibited the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer, and use of chemical weapons by states that are party to the treaty. However, in the ongoing Syrian Civil War, many parties have allegedly engaged in chemical warfare. Since then they have agreed to become a party to the CWC, but news reports accuse Syria of reneging on this deal and non-state actors, including the Islamic State and rebel groups, of continuously using chlorine and sulfur mustard attacks in Syria and Iraq. This issue must be addressed. If certain countries party to the CWC are allegedly going back on their agreement and engaging in the use of chemical weapons, what's to say that other countries won’t follow suit? The violation of the CWC, by any country, is a direct threat to the safety and liberty of the Bolivian people.
As a nation party to the CWC, the Plurinational State of Bolivia remains staunchly opposed to the use of chemical weapons. The duty of the Security Council of the United Nations is to defend multilateralism, which is what we should continue to do. Although there has never been a direct attack on Bolivia including the use of chemical weapons, we have witnessed the devastation it had upon the people of Syria. The chemical agents that serve to only hurt or harm people should continue to be prohibited, but the wide variety of chemicals used for commercial purposes should be left alone. Transparency between the UN and other countries party to the CWC is paramount. There can be no “wiggle room” for the countries to potentially violate the terms of the treaty. It must be clear, concise, and direct in order for there to be no “misunderstandings” or violations of the treaty.
Bolivia believes the treaty should be re-evaluated. The proposal would broaden the remit of the CWC beyond member states, restricting non-state actors’ access to chemical weapons and equipment, such as compact reactors, necessary to produce toxic compounds. This body must decide whether to move forward with this proposal, direct the OPCW to more proactively regulate emerging innovations in chemistry, and more forcefully penalize actors who breach the CWC.
